represent a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "represent a third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing proportions, fractions, or statistics to indicate that something constitutes one-third of a whole. Example: "In the survey results, those who preferred option A represent a third of the total respondents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The companies represent a third of all employment in retailing.

The Guardian - Business

Domestic homicides represent a third of all murders in England and Wales.

The Guardian

Obama and other Democrats contend that a McCain presidency would represent a third Bush term.

The New York Times

These children, who could almost be said to represent a third gender, cut through ethnic groups and across geographical lines.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Indeed, if Bamford played for the champions he would be unable to represent a third club this season.

The Guardian - Sport

Some 10 million documents in all, they will represent a third of the entire collection at Bad Arolsen.

The New York Times

The 90 jobs represent a third of the total jobs the company expects to eliminate, the spokesman, Jim Parker, said.

The New York Times

The Bagersh brothers, owners of the coffee business in SGI's portfolio, represent a third generation of coffee exporters.

The Economist

But the National Grid predicts that in some scenarios by 2020, small-scale and distributed generation will represent a third of total capacity in the UK.

The Guardian

Those categories of cases, he said, have largely been replaced by employment discrimination and other civil rights cases, which now represent a third of all federal civil trials.

The New York Times

Mitchell conceded that the names listed may only represent a third of the names of players involved in the steroid era.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider varying your phrasing. While "represent a third" is accurate, using alternatives like "account for a third" can enhance readability and prevent repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "represent a third" when the actual proportion is slightly different (e.g., 30% instead of 33.33%). In such cases, use approximations like "nearly a third" or "about a third".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "represent a third" functions as a quantifier and descriptor, indicating that a specific portion constitutes one-third of a larger whole. Ludwig AI's examples show its common use in expressing proportions across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "represent a third" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that something constitutes one-third of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently across various contexts, including news, scientific literature, and business reports. While straightforward, the key to effective use lies in ensuring the context clearly defines the 'whole' being referenced. Alternatives like "account for a third" or "constitute one third" can provide variety in writing. Overall, "represent a third" is a reliable and versatile tool for expressing proportions accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute one third

This alternative uses "constitute" instead of "represent", which means to form or compose.

account for a third

This uses "account for", which means to form a particular amount or part of something.

make up a third

This alternative employs "make up", meaning to form or compose something.

comprise a third

Using "comprise" indicates that something is included or contained within a whole.

form a third of

This option focuses on the act of forming or creating a portion of the whole.

amount to a third

This emphasizes the total quantity or measure reaching a certain fraction.

equate to one third

This phrase uses "equate to" to show that something is equivalent to a third.

are a third of

This uses simpler phrasing to indicate that something is a specific fraction of the total.

reflect a third portion

This alternative is slightly more descriptive, using "reflect" to show a proportional relationship and "portion" to specify part of a whole.

symbolize one third

This phrase indicates that something serves as a symbol or representation of one third.

FAQs

How can I use "represent a third" in a sentence?

You can use "represent a third" to indicate that something constitutes one-third of a whole, such as "In our survey, respondents from urban areas "represent a third" of the total sample".

What are some alternatives to "represent a third"?

Alternatives include "account for a third", "constitute one third", or "make up a third", which can provide variety in your writing.

Is it correct to say "represents a third" instead of "represent a third"?

The correct form depends on the subject's plurality. Use "represents" for singular subjects and "represent" for plural subjects. For example, "The sample represents a third of the population" (singular) versus "The samples represent a third of the population" (plural).

How does "represent a third" differ from "almost a third"?

"Represent a third" means precisely one-third, while "almost a third" indicates a proportion close to, but not exactly, one-third. The choice depends on the accuracy you want to convey.